UNICEF urgently called for an allocation of nearly 2 billion dollars on Friday, with the intention of extending life-saving support to a staggering 24 million boys and girls across West and Central Africa throughout 2024.
The forecast paints a concerning picture, projecting that 46.7 million children in the region are set to grapple with ongoing humanitarian needs for another year, fueled by conflicts in Central Sahel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the resultant displacements into Chad triggered by the war in Sudan.
‘West and Central Africa is home to a large number of critically underfunded emergencies and some of the most neglected humanitarian crises in the world for children,’ UNICEF Regional Director, Felicité Tchibindat, said.
The appeal, totaling 1.89 million dollars, aspires to achieve a broad reach, targeting approximately 24.1 million children in the coming year—showing an increase from the 23.5 million reached in 2023.
The aid initiative covers a broad spectrum of support, incorporating lifesaving nutrition supplies, access to clean water, educational provisions, child protection services, and the imperative inclusion of humanitarian cash transfers to households.
With strategic intent, over a third of the funding will be deployed to combat malnutrition, acknowledging the enduring issue of high prevalence of wasting in children under five.
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The Sahel countries bear the brunt of the impact, with various areas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and northwest Nigeria reaching emergency levels of child wasting.
Meanwhile, the outgoing head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has urged global leaders to heed scientific evidence on climate change and accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources.
Petteri Taalas, who ended his tenure as WMO Secretary-General on Friday, assumed the post in 2016 and was at the helm of the UN agency over the warmest eight-year period in recorded history.
‘The expertise and services of WMO and the scientific community have never been more necessary to tackle climate change, which represents humanity’s biggest challenge,’ he said.
He issued a request to world leaders, saying, ‘Please pay attention to the scientific evidence and listen to the United Nations, which is committed to promoting the welfare of citizens worldwide.’
Taalas celebrated the historic nature of the agreement forged at the recent COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, highlighting its groundbreaking acknowledgment of the imperative need to transition away from fossil fuels—an unprecedented move.
‘This is an important step in the right direction, but not the final goal.’
‘We urgently need to reduce our production and consumption of fossil fuels and speed up the transition to renewable energy. Time is running out,’ he said.